With so much focus on going green, you may be planning to hire a sustainability employee or bring on a consultant to assist your company with its sustainability strategy.

Any time someone new is joining the team, it’s vital that you take the time to find a person who will be a good fit for your business. Hiring the wrong person can put a strain on your office, waste valuable time and money, and hurt productivity.

When you start sorting through resumes, a candidate’s previous job titles can be helpful, but it’s more important to identify someone who is actually interested in the work you are doing.

What to listen for

When someone attends an interview they may tell you that they are “passionate about sustainability” or that they “love your company,” but it’s vital to remember that those generic words won’t guarantee this person will be a productive fit for your business. Instead, you should focus on what your interviewees asks you. An invested potential employee will want to know how you envision their position making a positive impact on the business. They will also be curious about growth and future opportunities with the company.

Test their response to negative feedback

Another factor to finding the best candidate is evaluating how they respond to criticism, so make sure to criticize or disagree with something they say during the interview process. Their reaction will be an important indicator of whether or not you believe the two of you can work together, since conflict and disagreement arise in every office. Other areas to assess are the candidate’s communication style as well as how quickly they work.

Test their commitment

Creating a task that requires the interviewee to share their expertise prior to meeting with them will allow you to see how quickly they work, but it will also put up a red flag if they request additional time or flat out miss their deadline. These are signs that they are probably someone you do not want to bring on board.

Treat them well

When you’ve found the right person, make sure your employment offer is about more than salary. The best employees are looking for more than just pay — they may want a decent amount of vacation time or the chance to telework. Keeping your team happy is likely to keep them committed to you business and that is the key!